Headband comfort and fit adjustment mechanisms

Abstract

A headband is disclosed for supporting a head-worn device with a comfortable and non-intrusive fit. In examples, the headband includes first and second loops supporting the headband on a wearer's head, and an adjustment mechanism for tightening the first and second loops. The adjustment mechanism tightens down the loops to a desired fit, at which point further actuation of the adjustment mechanism has no effect on the loops.

We claim: 
     
       1. A headband, comprising:
 a crown loop comprising first telescoping sections for adjusting a diameter of the crown loop, the crown loop configured to encircle a head of a user; 
 an overhead loop with ends fixed to opposing sides of the crown loop, the overhead loop comprising second telescoping sections for adjusting a length of the overhead loop, the overhead loop configured to be worn over a top of the head of the user; and 
 an adjustment mechanism comprising:
 a rotatable tightening wheel mounted on a shaft and connected to the crown loop and the overhead loop such that rotation of the rotatable tightening wheel in a first direction turns the shaft and causes the diameter of the crown loop to be reduced via the first telescoping sections and simultaneously causes the length of the overhead loop to be reduced via the second telescoping sections, and 
 first and second frictional clutches mounted on the shaft such that the adjustment mechanism tightens the crown loop via a first friction of the first frictional clutch against the shaft and tightens the overhead loop via a second friction of the second frictional clutch against the shaft, wherein the first frictional clutch slips when a first threshold resistance of the first friction is overcome thereby stopping the tightening of the crown loop, while tightening of the overhead loop continues with continued rotation of the rotatable tightening wheel. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The headband of  claim 1 , wherein additionally the second frictional clutch slips when a second threshold resistance of the second friction is overcome thereby stopping the tightening of the overhead loop, while tightening of the crown loop continues with continued rotation of the rotatable tightening wheel. 
     
     
       3. The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the tightening of the overhead loop continues until a second threshold resistance of the second friction is overcome, causing the second frictional clutch to slip, thereby stopping the tightening of the crown loop. 
     
     
       4. The headband of  claim 3 , wherein, when in use, the first and second threshold resistances are related to first and second threshold contact pressures, respectively, with the head of the user. 
     
     
       5. The headband of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second threshold contact pressures are the same as each other. 
     
     
       6. The headband of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second threshold contact pressures are different from each other. 
     
     
       7. The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the first frictional clutch is connected to the crown loop via a first cable and the second frictional clutch is connected to the overhead loop via a second cable. 
     
     
       8. The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the crown loop is configured to fully encircle the head of the user. 
     
     
       9. A headband, comprising:
 a crown loop comprising first telescoping sections for adjusting a diameter of the crown loop on a head of a user; 
 a first overhead loop with first and second ends fixed to opposing sides of the crown loop, the first overhead loop comprising second telescoping sections for adjusting a length of the first overhead loop; 
 a rotational tightening wheel mounted on a shaft and connected to the first and second telescoping sections, wherein the rotational tightening wheel is configured to simultaneously adjust the diameter of the crown loop and the length of the first overhead loop; and 
 a clutch mounted on the shaft such that the rotational tightening wheel decreases the diameter of the crown loop via the clutch, wherein the clutch slips when a threshold resistance of the clutch to rotation around the shaft is overcome, thereby halting the decrease of the diameter of the crown loop with further rotation of the rotational tightening wheel while the length of the first overhead loop continues to decrease. 
 
     
     
       10. The headband of  claim 9 , further comprising a second overhead loop with third and fourth ends fixed to the opposing sides of the crown loop, the second overhead loop comprising third telescoping sections for adjusting a length of the second overhead loop, the rotational tightening wheel connected to the third telescoping sections such that the rotational tightening wheel simultaneously adjusts the crown loop, the first overhead loop, and the second overhead loop. 
     
     
       11. The headband of  claim 9 , further comprising a second clutch mounted on the shaft such that the rotational tightening wheel decreases the length of the first overhead loop via the second clutch. 
     
     
       12. The headband of  claim 11 , wherein the second clutch slips when another threshold resistance of the second clutch to rotation around the shaft is overcome, thereby halting the decrease of the length of the first overhead loop with further rotation of the rotational tightening wheel. 
     
     
       13. The headband of  claim 9 , wherein the rotational tightening wheel simultaneously decreases the diameter of the crown loop and the length of the first overhead loop when turned in a first rotational direction and simultaneously increases the diameter of the crown loop and the length of the first overhead loop when turned in a second, opposite rotational direction. 
     
     
       14. A headband, comprising:
 a crown loop configured to fully encircle a head of a user; 
 an overhead loop with first and second ends fixed to opposing sides of the crown loop; and 
 an adjustment mechanism, comprising:
 a tightening wheel, and 
 a first clutch coupled to the crown loop and a second clutch coupled to the overhead loop such that turning the tightening wheel in a first direction simultaneously decreases a diameter of the crown loop and decreases a length of the overhead loop, 
 wherein, when in use, the first clutch slips when a resistance to rotation of the first clutch is overcome such that with further rotation of the tightening wheel, the diameter of the crown loop does not decrease further while the length of the overhead loop continues to decrease. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The headband of  claim 14 , wherein the resistance to rotation of the first clutch is related to a contact pressure of the crown loop against the head of the user. 
     
     
       16. The headband of  claim 14 , wherein the first clutch and the second clutch comprise frictional clutches. 
     
     
       17. The headband of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second clutches have different diameters. 
     
     
       18. The headband of  claim 14 , wherein turning the tightening wheel in a second direction increases the diameter of the crown loop and increases the length of the overhead loop. 
     
     
       19. The headband of  claim 14 , further comprising a shaft, wherein the first clutch and the tightening wheel are mounted on the shaft. 
     
     
       20. The headband of  claim 19 , wherein the second clutch is mounted on the shaft.